E-Paper
Jalandhar records 54% turnout, polling peaceful
A voter turnout of over 54% was recorded in the high-stakes bypoll to Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, which is witnessing a four-cornered electoral battle.
Jalandhar
A voter turnout of over 54% was recorded in the high-stakes bypoll to Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, which is witnessing a four-cornered electoral battle.
In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the constituency recorded 63.04% polling and the voting percentage was 66.95% in 2022 assembly polls. There are 16,21,800 registered voters in nine assembly segments under Jalandhar parliamentary constituency.
Shahkot assembly segment, which remained tense throughout the polling day, recorded highest 57.4% voting followed by Jalandhar West 56.4 %, Phillaur 55.8%, Nakodar 55.4%, Kartarpur 54.7%, Jalandhar North 54.4%, Adampur 54%, Jalandhar Central 49% and Jalandhar Cantt 48.9%.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary due to a cardiac arrest during party leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in January. The AAP, which is the ruling party in the state, Congress, BJP and the SAD-BSP are vying to outdo each other in the Dalit stronghold.
Counting of votes will take place on May 13.
The bypoll remained largely peaceful barring violations of model code of conduct by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and workers belonging to other parts of the state. According to directions issued by Election Commission of India, only registered voters could stay in constituency after the campaigning ended on May 8 at 6am.
No major incident of violence was reported across the parliamentary constituency, barring a few skirmishes in Jalandhar West, Phillaur and Shahkot assembly segments.
Police have also arrested AAP legislator Baba Bakala Dalbir Singh Tong under Section 188 (disobeying public official’s order) of IPC at Shahkot police station as being an outsider he couldn’t be present in the constituency. He was seen roaming around No. 92 polling booths in Rupewal village of Shahkot assembly segment along with AAP workers. He was later released on bail. The opposition has already raised questions over the efficiency of district administration in ensuring free and fair elections and reported the matter to Election Commission of India (ECI).
A total of 19 candidates, including 15 males and four females, are in fray. The AAP has fielded turncoat Sushil Kumar Rinku, while the Congress has reposed trust in the Chaudhary family by giving ticket to Santokh’s wife Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary. From the SAD-BSP, sitting MLA Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi is in the fray, while the BJP has chosen Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, who had switched to the saffron party after snapping ties with the SAD.
Both Rinku and Karamjit Kaur cast their vote in Jalandhar West and Phillaur constituencies, while Sukhi and Atwal are not registered voters in the constituency.
Chief electoral officer, Punjab, Sibin C thanked voters for coming out to exercise their democratic right. He said the focus of the ECI was to ensure a peaceful poll in a free and fair manner. He said it was a matter of satisfaction that all polling stations saw a good number of voters.
Sibin C thanked all the polling, security and Punjab Police personnel for working day and night to ensure free, fair and peaceful bye polls in Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat. He also thanked civil officials and employees for their contribution in the election process.
